Loon South Peak Expansion

[Newpylong]

I didn't say they weren't making snow, I was just surprised at how little it seemed to be. I was aware of the humidity at the time because I was driving by to make snow myself.

It looks like Cannon is moving over to Zoomer and the connection to the Tram this week, so that's good.

 

[chuckstah]

They are also blowing the tubing area.

No tubing this season, it must be for another park.

 

[bigbob]

If they started Cruiser then they are also making the work road under the Tote Quad. Is the damn terrain park still on lower Sunset blocking the primary entrance to Haul back?

I saw a cat working a snow pile just west of the unload area on the main mnt side. It looked like they were blowing the work road. Also, when I got on 93 they were blowing on South Peak. 240 guns running today per the report.

 

[LoafSkier19]

Just here today. Parking lot was full when Igot here just after 9. They need to get Upper Walking Boss open. Only Sunset off North Peak chair. No lift lines save for the gondola. I rarely ride that. Most trails are firm with pockets of congestion. Christmas rush has started early.

Was there yesterday as well. Place is going to be a nightmare if they can’t get more terrain over Xmas break. The trails already couldn’t handle the traffic and it wasn’t even particularly busy.

 

[skef]

Skied Loon Friday. First run of the day down Angel Street, which was pretty marginal (it was pretty well scraped off the day before).
Mostly pretty classical East coast skiing all over, *except* that in the second half of the day they dropped the rope on Lower Flume, which had been sitting there, covered with untouched (well, partly poached) natural snow (not quite enough to cover the vegetation, but definitely enough to ski on). Very soft stuff, which formed very soft bumps very quickly. Undisputed ROTD.

 

[The Sneak]

Skied Loon Saturday 12/28. Friggin clusterf*ck of epic proportions but my friend had enough Boyne points to redeem for free half day ski school / lessons for both of his kids so off we went. Classic Loon. Long lines everywhere but North Peak, where there was a sub 1 minute wait. Lower Flume was ROTD, by far. There was a temp inversion at the bell, 39 F up to and about 25 at the base. Everything was basically dangerously scraped off by 11:30 or 12. Not my favorite place.

 

[KustyTheKlown]

Saturday of vacation week and not 100% open. It is known

 

[thebigo]

I am a loon fan but everything was pointing to massive crowding yesterday. No idea why anyone would expect anything else? Even cannon was parking at echo lake but no lift lines and a decent surface all day. Plus you don't find signs like this at loon.

 

[snoseek]

Loon on a random Tuesday is one of.my favorites in nh. I actually miss skiing there it's been years but I'll never understand why people subject themselves over and over to that kind of shitshow every weekend.

Nh is good at avoiding crowds in general. Except for loon

 

[Bumpsis]

Loon on a random Tuesday is one of.my favorites in nh. I actually miss skiing there it's been years but I'll never understand why people subject themselves over and over to that kind of shitshow every weekend.

Nh is good at avoiding crowds in general. Except for loon

I share your opinion. If it weren't for the IKON pass, I'd be avoiding Loon even on weekdays. Well, OK, perhaps Tuesdays maybe least crowded. In a way I'm kind of glad that Loon packs a crowd, perhaps it helps with a bit less traffic at Cannon.

 

[deadheadskier]

It surprises me that iKon hasn't tried or been successful at adding another NH mountain to their pass. Maybe a Waterville or Bretton Woods. There has to be many day trip skiers in Southern NH or Metro Boston that don't buy iKon because Loon is the only option within reasonable day trip range. No chance I'd ever get iKon as a day tripping weekend warrior.

 

[snoseek]

It surprises me that iKon hasn't tried or been successful at adding another NH mountain to their pass. Maybe a Waterville or Bretton Woods. There has to be many day trip skiers in Southern NH or Metro Boston that don't buy iKon because Loon is the only option within reasonable day trip range. No chance I'd ever get iKon as a day tripping weekend warrior.

A full time nh mtn would sell me on that pass

 

[urungus]

It surprises me that iKon hasn't tried or been successful at adding another NH mountain to their pass. Maybe a Waterville or Bretton Woods. There has to be many day trip skiers in Southern NH or Metro Boston that don't buy iKon because Loon is the only option within reasonable day trip range. No chance I'd ever get iKon as a day tripping weekend warrior.

Killington and Stratton are only 10-15 minutes further from Boston than Bretton Woods

 

[deadheadskier]

Killington and Stratton are only 10-15 minutes further from Boston than Bretton Woods

Assuming good driving luck yes, but that's rarely the case. Many more small towns and state roads to get to both with opportunities to get stuck behind slower drivers or having to deal with the harsh traffic enforcement on 4 going through Woodstock / Bridgewater. They are both considerably more crowded on weekends than BW, especially Stratton. Stratton falls in the same category as Loon for me on weekends.

My overall point remains in that iKon isn't the best option for a day tripper from my location. Epic is far better from a commute time standpoint, but that has the problem with Vail managing NH areas like garbage. So, Indy remains the best choice for me with also having a Gunstock Pass for an uncrowded short commute option.

I basically traded Crotched on Saturdays and Sunapee, Attitash or Wildcat on Sunday's for Indy Pass areas typically Saturday and Gunstock on Sunday. I'm happy with that, but would certainly give iKon more of a look if it had more NH options than just Loon.

 

[The Sneak]

I mean, I went in fully expecting what I experienced. It's just truly shocking how quickly Loon gets skied off. I don't think I've had a good snow day there in over a decade.

 

[Edd]

Loon on a random Tuesday is one of.my favorites in nh. I actually miss skiing there it's been years but I'll never understand why people subject themselves over and over to that kind of shitshow every weekend.

Nh is good at avoiding crowds in general. Except for loon

2 or 3 years ago a few friends and I were riding the gondy at BW with an older couple we didn’t know and I talked some shit about Loon (the usual complaints). Turned out they were Loon regulars, condo owners, weekend warriors, the whole deal. They were not impressed with me.

 

[deadheadskier]

I think some of the weekend madness tolerance of places like Loon, Stratton and Stowe by neighbors to the south is that they're just more used to crowds and waiting around in general than those of us who choose to live away from cities and their suburbs. If you are used to the 95 life and being nuts to butts on crowded city streets all the time, lift lines and resort town traffic or sharing a beach with thousands of others just seems normal.

 

[KustyTheKlown]

you aren't wrong.

when i was a kid, route 4 was like the great wall of the north. nothing existed north of killington as far as my dad was concerned. he didnt care if it was there or less crowded. we went to killington and mount snow and hunter. thats where we skied.

now, when i find myself at stratton from time to time, it definitely does seem that their clientele think the stratton experience is just normal and how it is and how it is supposed to be

 

[machski]

I mean, I went in fully expecting what I experienced. It's just truly shocking how quickly Loon gets skied off. I don't think I've had a good snow day there in over a decade.

Part of this is because of their strategy when resurfacing. They only use every 3rd gun or so, then groom it out. Doesn't put down much new material when you do it like that.

 

[thebigo]

Been at loon and/or cannon most everyday since opening. Contrast in crowd level is absurd. Had a race at loon last weekend, stood there watching the constant hoarde swarming the 8, stopped by cannon after and parked in the third row, Peabody was ski on.

I don't know the finances or logistics but cannon could easily absorb 5 - 7 ikon days. The extra crowding would suck but worth it if the revenue was put towards snowmaking.

I get that the purists would be pissed but there is never anyone here. Other than first chair, not sure there has been a single liftline this year.